More protest against anti-illegal mine operation in South Kalimantan
Wednesday, July 18 2001 - 08:45 AM WIB
Aspera, which is the association of the small-scale mining company, slammed the local police and the government-sponsored anti-illegal mining commission, which is locally better known as TP3-Peti, for their tough actions against illegal miners operating in the contract areas of coal mining company PT Adaro Indonesia and PT Arutmin Indonesia.
Adaro is owned by Indonesia, Australian and American investors, while Arutmin by Australian and Indonesian investors while Arutmin by Australian and Indonesian investors.
Aspera?s chairman was quoted by local daily Banjarmasin Post as saying in a press conference that the TP3-Peti was nothing but the ?tool? of foreign investors in the area.
He also called on the police to side with the small people rather than the authorities.
The protest followed an operation by police and the TP3-Peti commission to stop illegal mining in the province. The police for instance had confiscated heavy equipment use by illegal miners operating in the contract area of Arutmin.
Five hundreds of people, including illegal miners and students, have staged demonstration in Pelaihari, Tanah Laut Regency over the past two days to pressure the local authorities and police to return the confiscated the equipment to the illegal miners and to allow them to continue their illegal mining activities.
The protesters have even occupied Arutmin?s coalmines, forcing the company to suspend its operation, according to Antara news agency.
The TP3-Peti commission was however unfazed by the protest, Banjarmasin Post reported.
?If we don?t take tough actions, the operation will bring no fruits. Thereby, the police must take tough actions against the illegal miners,? one commission member Suharna A. Rasyid, who is also head the province?s mines and energy office, said. (*)